Own a piece of history from the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
For decades, Chuck Zapf has been buying a seat to shows and events at the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall for his older brother Gary, who has special needs. The seat he usually purchases is P-1.
He now owns that actual seat.
The venue is selling the seats on the first floor to make room for new ones.
“My brother loves going to shows there,” said Zapf. “He is the one who called to tell me about them selling the seats.”
Close to 1,000 seats will be available for sale this weekend. People may purchase them between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The cost is two for $50, cash only.
Zapf was able to acquire the seat ahead of time because he is a longtime volunteer at the music hall.
“This is so exciting for us,” said Carol Shrieve, executive director of the Carnegie of Homestead, located in Munhall. “We imagine these seats getting a second life in someone’s office or on a back porch or at a camp. I love Chuck’s story. It is so heartfelt. He is wonderful to his brother and is such a huge supporter of us.”
Zapf, of Whitaker, 62, recalls taking the 55B bus to the library, which is near the music hall, as a child.
“It is a community here,” Zapf said. “Andrew Carnegie wanted this to be an inclusive space and it truly is. My brother loves live music and entertainment.”
The venue is also raising money through donations to feature an inscription on a nameplate to be placed on the arm of one or more of the new seats. Zapf is a sponsor of two of those seats, in memory of his parents and in-laws.
The music hall is just one aspect of building, constructed in 1898 as the Carnegie Library of Homestead. It still has the library, among the oldest Carnegie libraries in continuous operation in its original structure. There’s also a full-service athletic facility with an indoor pool.
The new configuration at the music hall, which seats 1,045, will include more accessible areas. Entertainers over the years include Dave Chappelle, Pete Davidson, Boz Scaggs, Sturgill Simpson, Jeff Goldblum, William Shatner and hundreds more.
The space also serves as a location for local nonprofits and for civic engagement, programs and services such as graduation commencement exercises, naturalization ceremonies, school band concerts, church plays and local dance recitals.
Shrieve noted that the old seats had a shelf where men could place their hats. Original wood seats from 1898, they have outlived their life expectancy, she said.
Some people have told her they stopped attending shows because the seats aren’t comfortable. The new seats, made of cherry wood, will be larger and cushioned, Shrieve said.
After the first-floor seats are replaced this summer, the balcony seats will be replaced in 2025.
The venue will reopen on Aug. 10 with A Tribute Night to the Eagles, featuring Out of Eden.
Zapf will probably get a ticket for his brother.
“I didn’t want to miss this opportunity,” Zapf said. “I am still deciding where to put the seats but at least I have them. And I love that the money goes to supporting this venue.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.